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Academic Curveball (Braxton Campus Mysteries) Paperback – October 14, 2018

by James J. Cudney (Author), Nicki Kuzn (Editor)

1,666 ratings

Book 1 of 8: Braxton Campus Mysteries

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Who killed Professor Abby Monroe?

When Kellan Ayrwick returns home for his father's retirement, he finds a body in Diamond Hall's stairwell. Unfortunately, Kellan has a connection to the victim, and so do several members of his family.

Soon after, the college's athletic program receives mysterious donations, a nasty blog denounces his father, and someone attempts to change students' grades. Something is amiss on campus, but none of the facts add up.

With the help of his eccentric nana, Kellan tries to stay out of the sheriff's way and solve the mystery. But can they find the killer before he strikes again?

Praise:

★★★★★ - "I read a lot of murder mystery and whodunit books, and this was one of the best I’ve read in a while. The story is full of twists and turns, and the characters are relatable. If you like cozy mysteries, you should definitely give this series a try."

★★★★★ - "Fantastic writing and witty dialogue. Awesome."

★★★★★ - "An exciting, cozy mystery."

★★★★★ - "Full of twists and turns, and an ending you won't see coming."

Editorial Reviews

Review

***** - "There is something very authentic when it comes to first-person narrations, especially when the main character has a sense of humor. In this case, Kellan Ayrwick is the source of the humor and wit." (Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite)

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 172877876X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728778761
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.68 x 8.5 inches
Book 1 of 8 ‏ : ‎ Braxton Campus Mysteries

Best Sellers Rank: #2,309,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,100 in Humorous Fiction
- #30,427 in Cozy Mysteries (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,666 ratings

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James J. Cudney

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James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island, lived in New York City for over a decade, and currently live in Stamford, CT, but I've traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I began working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment, media, retail, and hospitality industries. Although I enjoy my job, I also want to re-focus on my passions: telling stories and connecting people through literature.

In 2017, I published my debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. The sequel, Hiding Cracked Glass, released exactly three years later in 2020. I've also written another family drama novel, Father Figure, and created the Braxton Campus Mysteries, a light investigation series about a humorous thirty-something guy dealing with murders and the drama of a small town. I've also co-authored a book, Weathering Old Souls, with the wonderful Didi Oviatt.

Most of my books are available in hardcover, paperback, electronic, and audiobook formats, as well as in a variety of bookstores. We've begun translating into Portuguese, Spanish, German, Greek, and Italian for some of the books too. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com.

Outside of writing, I'm an avid genealogist (discovered 2,500 family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 1,000 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I share several fun features, including the Book Bucket List, Tips & Advice, Author Spotlights & Book Alerts, and the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. You'll find tons of humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers... where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. Baxter, a two-year-old shiba inu, constantly tries to stop me from writing so I can play with him and keep him amused. How else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?

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1,666 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the cozy mystery's twists and turns, with one review describing it as a "tangled web of a story." The book features well-written characters and witty dialogue that keeps readers laughing. Customers appreciate the colorful characters, relationships, and plenty of motives, with one review highlighting the quirky village setting in Pennsylvania. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it slow.

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Readability Character variety Writing quality Romance Color scheme Motives Pacing

72 customers mention "Readability"72 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with several noting it's among the best they've read in a while, and one mentioning it's particularly suitable for summer reading.

"...Fun read, not short, but it didn't need to be. The characters are fun and hysterical, Nana D mostly." Read more

"...Wanted to hear more of former life and the mob. Great book would read this author again." Read more

"Academic setting was different and interesting. Was a good read" Read more

"...I found the story entertaining and enjoyable. I look forward to future installments." Read more

66 customers mention "Character variety"53 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding them interesting and well-written, with one customer particularly appreciating the character of Kellan.

"This is such a fun book. The characters are relatable and colorful. The story is interesting and well written. It is a great mystery...." Read more

"...Fun read, not short, but it didn't need to be. The characters are fun and hysterical, Nana D mostly." Read more

"...Many characters and red herrings with the ending being a complete surprise. Okay read." Read more

"...Did I mention this is a cozy mystery with scads of characters and subplots?..." Read more

51 customers mention "Writing quality"37 positive14 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its competent prose and great dialogue that keeps readers laughing.

"...The story is interesting and well written. It is a great mystery. I will recommend it for any age. Thanks." Read more

"Well written and surprisingly clean. You don't have to be crass or vulgar to write a good book. Thanks James...." Read more

"As the book seemed stilted and the going was slow. Then it seemed to pick up and become interesting, so I kept reading...." Read more

"...But I must say this is Cudney at his best. This is great writing and storytelling, with a fascinating plot...." Read more

7 customers mention "Romance"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romantic elements in the book, with one mentioning how the author skillfully connects characters throughout the story.

"...to a series, as there are lots of colorful characters and complex relationships. And a real surprise in the very last paragraph!" Read more

"...There are love interests, jealousy, plenty of motives, and a host of fascinating characters to draw his attention...." Read more

"...There is no bad language or sex, there is the hint of romance, the prose is competent with good grammar...." Read more

"...There is family drama, relationships, and so much more that you'll want to know what happens next...." Read more

6 customers mention "Color scheme"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's color scheme, describing it as cute and unique, with one customer noting it features a quirky village in Pennsylvania.

"This is such a fun book. The characters are relatable and colorful. The story is interesting and well written. It is a great mystery...." Read more

"...read many cozy mysteries, but a small town college setting, the adorable cover, and great reviews drew me to this book...." Read more

"...The characters are so interesting, each being very unique and full of personality...." Read more

"...Thank goodness for Nana D. She is a hoot! The cast is detailed and diverse...." Read more

6 customers mention "Motives"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's well-developed plot with multiple motives, and one customer notes the intelligent character development.

"...Kellan is smart, funny and sarcastic is a delightful way. He comes across as very laid back and confident...." Read more

"...There are love interests, jealousy, plenty of motives, and a host of fascinating characters to draw his attention...." Read more

"...is able to weave in the main character’s back story, ideals, thought processes—we learn just who Kellan Ayrwick is and the details progress without..." Read more

"...She’s a feisty, intelligent lady who speaks her mind – and also makes repeated attempts to fix up her grandson with questionable choices in..." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several finding it slow starting, while one customer appreciates the well-done college setting.

"As the book seemed stilted and the going was slow. Then it seemed to pick up and become interesting, so I kept reading...." Read more

"...He comes across as very laid back and confident...." Read more

"...is sometimes I felt there was so much description that it slowed the pace of the story...." Read more

"Even though I found this book to move a bit slow once the many twists and turns began it definitely picked up speed...." Read more

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heather taylor
Academic curveball
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

This is such a fun book. The characters are relatable and colorful. The story is interesting and well written. It is a great mystery. I will recommend it for any age. Thanks.

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Amanda Cato
Take me out to the ball...game...
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The first book is always more introduction and background. So, we have Kellan who lost his wife some time ago and has a young daughter to care for. His father is retiring from the Braxton Campus and there is party thrown in his honor. The night of the party, however, one of the staff members is seen dead at the bottom of a stairway. The funny thing is, that was the woman Kellan was supposed to meet in regards to a second season of a show he is helping with called, Dark Reality.

Yeah, reality just got dark for Kellan - I don't care if that was lame, I thought it was a little funny.

Kellan had me from the beginning of this quote:

"I'm powerless to desserts - also known as my kryptonite - hence, why I've always thought they should be a major food group."

I agree!! I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth in the world. Peanut butter and chocolate are god send and who ever put them together in the first place was a genius and should forever be rewarded!

The whole murder centers around baseball. No, seriously. I'm not at all a baseball fan, or a sports fan in general, but apparently the woman murdered, Abby Monroe, found out something that could ruin a student's chance at a baseball career and believe me, that's not where it ends.

Kellan has an AWESOME grandmother, Nana D, who is so overly outspoken. She almost reminds me of my own grandmother.

"I thought about killing your Grandpop a few times. Run him down with a tractor or stab him with a pitch fork while bailing hay. In the end, it was always too much of a mess to clean so I let him live."

Obviously there's more to that but that part just made me laugh. She's a little nuts, but not the good kind - there is such thing as a good nut - trust me...I could be one of them.

I didn't really make any guesses as to who the killer was - I had a hunch, but I was wrong - but the revealing was a bit of a surprise. Kind of wondered what did I miss, which that's not a bad thing.

The ending...well, let's just say I have a lot of questions as to how THAT is anywhere near possible unless it's the damn apocalypse!

Everything is told from Kellan's point of view. Sometimes he is a bit of a chatty Cathy and asks a lot of questions to himself - and maybe he answers back - sometimes you just need expert advice! There are a lot of side stories going on that tie into the one main story so going into details about them would be turning this post into a book report and while I enjoy doing those, I'm sure not everybody wants to sit and read a full detailed one.

Plus, it means that your curiosity is peaked enough to go read the first book of this series. Which I believe is now getting to book 5 - so I have a lot of catching up to do.

If I could just one little nit picky observation - cell phones do not have dial tones. Just saying.

This is a fun little cozy mystery. It is a murder mystery, yes, but it reads like Murder She Wrote or perhaps one of Roald Dahl's morbid short stories - those are fantastic by the way. Now if you'll excuse me...I need to see about getting the second book.

I don't really rate anymore, but if I must, I'd say this was four out of five stars. Fun read, not short, but it didn't need to be. The characters are fun and hysterical, Nana D mostly.

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Retiredaunt
Almost stopped reading early
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
As the book seemed stilted and the going was slow. Then it seemed to pick up and become interesting, so I kept reading. Many characters and red herrings with the ending being a complete surprise. Okay read.

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Kindle Customer
Academic Shenanigans
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
He returns to his home town and college for his father’s retirement. He is an in the background person for a reality show. His wife has been deceased for six years and he is just beginning to emerge from the grief. Their daughter was left with the grandparents in California, but he communicates with her every day via technology. What was meant to be a three week visit for the retirement and connecting with another person about skullduggery in Braxton worth adding to the reality show takes a twist when that person is murdered. Then another female is murdered at the college. What is happening in this small placid town? There’s a nasty blog Post about his father and all the huge funds spent on an athlete center and the sports figures. There the issue of a major league scout scoping out the Braxton star pitcher who may not be academically able to be involved in sports. Did someone fudge on his grades and enter wrong info. Where is the murder weapon and the missing clarinet? There are suspects all over the college, including the baseball coach who was dating both of the murdered women. The family interaction is great too, and Nana D. adds a sexy, nosy complex character to the mix. Our hero is pressed into service. He has the degree so he winds of teaching the classes of the woman he was to interview and collect the stories for the reality show. He’s still trying to find those for his rather contemptible boss. The sheriff seems to have taken a dislike to him and his meddling, his best friend, Conner, from college is the buff security head honcho there and both are attracted to the same woman they had liked in college. To complicate matters, his friend had been dating his sister, and the sheriff has eyes for Connor. Nana D. seems to stick her nose and finger into all the goings on. There’s her clarinet student who has had her clarinet stolen. One wonders if that was the murder weapon, the coach is found out to be best friends with the major league scout and someone has definitely fudged the grades for the baseball player. Then the news hits that Braxton is going to be a full-fledged University and he is asked to become an instructor. His father will be leading this new institution. Meanwhile the suspects keep multiplying. Did I mention this is a cozy mystery with scads of characters and subplots? I rarely read them anymore, but then this author manages to wrap everything up satisfactorily and hits you with a closing sentence that means you have to read the next novel to find out what happens. Beware, this could be addictive

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Top reviews from other countries

Daranem
Excellent mystery
Reviewed in Australia on February 26, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Entertaining, great characters and a thoroughly enjoyable yarn. I didnt guess the murderer until late and i loved the main character. Kellan was as smart as he was humble and with a whole set of feelings that made him come to life. And the ending? Well, i didnt see that one coming. Read it.

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yop
A good read that keeps you guessing.
Reviewed in Spain on December 9, 2021
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Academic Curveball by James J. Cudney

This is the first book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries series.

Kellan Ayrwick returns to his hometown for his father’s retirement party. During which a woman he was planning to meet, Abbey Monroe, is found murdered in the stairway of Diamond Hall.

The suspect list is soon overflowing with possible culprits; as various motives are discovered. There is talk of grade changes for the sporting students, a mysterious nasty blog criticising large anonymous donations to the athletics programme and comments that cast aspersions on the involvement of the Ayrwick family.

Kellan starts his own investigation. He wades through the many twists and turns of this complex plot with its red herrings and subtle clues. The reader is left wondering if the killer will ever be found. I have to admit I was nowhere near guessing the real culprit, but when all was revealed, it made perfect sense.

The characters are well developed. I particularly enjoyed the feisty Nana D who meddles in everything and tries to fix the widowed Kellan up with a new love interest at every possible opportunity.

The ending leaves the reader wanting more. If you are into Cosy mysteries. Don’t miss out on this one!

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bsr
great characters, fun story
Reviewed in Canada on June 22, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I really enjoyed this mystery set in a small town college. The characters are just enough larger than life to be fun and quirky, and the plot was carefully constructed and interesting. Recommend.

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Amazon Customer
Warning – read one, you have to read another, and then, another…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I was recommended this series of Braxton Campus Mysteries. So, I bought book 3, Flower Power Trip (I know, I have this thing of starting a series in the middle). I read it, loved it, reviewed it and thought, I will read book 1. Bought it, read it, am reviewing it, and now, HAVE to read the rest. I’ve already bought book 2.
These are wonderfully engaging whodunits, much like an Agatha Christie on speed. I mean that in the nicest possible way, in that the writing is pacey, clever, witty, and the characters come well-formed and, immediately captivating. The scene a North American, idealistic (in my view) college campus not far from Philadelphia.
Kellan Ayrwick is a recently widowed TV show researcher / academic, balancing a career with bringing up a young daughter and, moderating the loving involvement of mafia in-laws – okay, because that is the easy bit.
Kellan returns to Braxton from LA to attend his father’s retirement from President of the College.
I’m a slow reader and needed to be, because this is detailed stuff that I love to get absorbed in. Right from the start a host of characters are introduced in succinct and clever writing; I’m in. I’m fascinated and, bang, the first murder. A close friend of Kellan’s on the academic staff.
What follows next is a wonderful trail of clues, what ifs, players on the scene that I loved, but who did it, and why? There is a Baseball Scout coming to watch two top notch pitchers but one is not up to academic muster, and then he is…? Someone manipulating academic scores? Is this the reason?
Young love on the campus confuses matters. Kellan’s emotions run riot. He’s not been attracted to a woman since he lost his wife. Now, there’s the sheriff, April – something there? An old girlfriend who still looks drop dead gorgeous, but now seemingly, going out with his former best buddie whilst stringing his sister along, and, he is head of security at the campus.
Kellan’s hormones may be rioting but so was my imagination, and then, another murder.
I will say no more because you just have to read it, and when you do, look out for my favourite character. The irascible Nana D, Kellan’s maternal grandmother; cantankerous, feisty, passionate, and still has an eye for a man.
I love it when you find a series that you can look forward to reading. This is cosy with a fizz and, that fizz is a fuse fizzing to the end of this book for a whizz-bang of an ending.

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marjorie mallon
Well written light-hearted Murder Mystery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
A light-hearted murder mystery set in an academic setting with strong family vibes. I enjoyed this cozy story. It is for you if you like a well written story with lots of engaging dialogue. It is perhaps a bit different from what I would normally read but it is good to try new genres from time to time. I particularly enjoyed the main character’s Kellan Ayrwick’s feisty Nana who is such a fun character! Kellan is a widower with a young daughter, he works on a true crime television series called “Dark Reality.” His father’s retirement party at Braxton Campus brings more than he expects when Abby Monroe is found dead and it soon becomes clear that her death is not of natural causes.

Recommended reading for murder mystery fans who enjoy humour as a side dish to the murder mystery.

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Academic Curveball (Braxton Campus Mysteries) Paperback – October 14, 2018

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A Crisp, Pithy, Funny, and Dangerously Exciting Mystery!

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Academic curveball

4.0 out of 5 stars Take me out to the ball...game...

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost stopped reading early

5.0 out of 5 stars Academic Shenanigans

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mystery

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read that keeps you guessing.

5.0 out of 5 stars great characters, fun story

5.0 out of 5 stars Warning – read one, you have to read another, and then, another…

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written light-hearted Murder Mystery

Academic curveball

Take me out to the ball...game...

Almost stopped reading early

Academic Shenanigans

Excellent mystery

A good read that keeps you guessing.

great characters, fun story

Warning – read one, you have to read another, and then, another…

Well written light-hearted Murder Mystery